Light therapy lamps emit intense levels of light equivalent to that of sunlight immediately following sunrise or just before sunset. This kind of treatment began in the early eighties and its use has increased year on year. Light therapy is used for treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or winter blues, low energy levels, interrupted sleep and irritability disorders. Seasonal affective disorder affects people who mainly live in colder climates and where the days are a lot shorter in the winter months. In many areas, the lack of sunlight and daylight causes people to become depressed. Light therapy lamps have worked very well for a lot of people with this disorder.

The light therapy lamp is made up of fluorescent bulbs in a pack enclosed with a diffusing screen. The user of this light therapy lamp sits close to the box and is still able to read, write, work etc as normal for durations ranging from fifteen minutes to two hours, either once or twice a day. Mostly users respond to light therapy within a week. As the disorder is of a seasonal nature, the patient begins treatment as the days become shorter in the winter, and continues till the days start to become longer in the spring.

Many studies show that natural sunlight is the key to regulating our body clocks. At the time of winter an individual’s body is affected negatively, due to the lack of sunlight. Because of this the mood becomes disturbed and the energy levels will also decrease. Sleeping patterns may be disturbed leading to a condition known as the “winter blues.” A light therapy lamp is able to adjust the patient's internal clock thereby normalizing their internal rhythms. It has also been suggested that light therapy lamps increase the production of serotonin or suppress the output of melatonin. Whilst most users find the treatment more effective in the morning, a few users have been found to achieve better results with the evening light.

There are many varieties of sunlight lamp products to meet specific requirements. There are products for seasonal blues and jet lag, products for skin care, products for better sleep, products for the home environment, product for stress relief and relaxation etc.

The benefits of seasonal affective disorder lamps include better sleep throughout the night, a refreshed feeling after waking up in the morning, a boost of energy levels throughout the day and an improved disposition, all induced by a naturaltherapy and without resorting to sleeping pills and their associated side effects.

A few occasional side-effects like headache, eye strain and occasional insomnia have been reported, but the insomnia can be reduced by session scheduling, possible side effects can also be lessened by using a variation known as dawn simulation in which the intensity of the light is altered slowly as if the sun were rising. In a few exceptional cases women have been found to suffer irregular menstruation at the time of treatment. In any case it is important to point out that it sunlight lamps could be regarded as a medical treatment, so before undergoing a treatment of this type, it might be better to discuss it with a health care professional. It should also be noted that the symptoms of SAD are found to re-occur soon after cessation of the treatment.

Doctors who prescribe SAD lamps for their patients will usually denote how long the sessions should be with the lamp, and how long the patient should continue to use the lamps. Some people find a lot of relief by being able to sense the feeling of calm and happiness that they often would feel outside or in the sun. The light therapy lamps can also be used in conjunction with other treatments for people who may have more serious cases of mental illness or seasonal depression. If you feel that you are affected by the changing seasons, and seem to notice that you are feeling more depressed or sad during the cold, winter months every year, you may want to talk to your doctor. You can find out about your options, and if light therapy would be a beneficial treatment for you to try.